Well tubing hanger



March 15, 1960 w WILSON ETAL 2,928,635

WELL TUBING HANGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1958 WW, ywzt m ChanL J eun- ATTORNEY W n l 5 J A? r 1.. y it v l A 5 z 0 [1i ll 1 a 0 I f... 1 l1 1 I t w a to a TM 3 d a i z; 73 V L m H. I 4 a M l mw 5 llmvho 1 r 1 a W: .M ,2 C Z 4 M I m. n m H 3.

Malch 15, 1960 w. G. WILSON ETAL 2,928,635

WELL TUBING HANGER Filed March 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Pqggg- WELL TUBING HANGER Wilmer G. Wilson and Charles J. ORear, Shreveport, 1a., assignors to Arkansas Fuel Oil Corporation, Shreveport, La., a corporation of Delaware Application March 4, 1958, Serial No. 719,041

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-56) This invention relates to oil and gas well equipment. and more particularly to a new and improved pipe hanger for suspending well tubing, drill pipe,'or well casing on adown the hole shoulder of an oifshore well.

In the drilling of an offshore well, according to. presentlyutilized techniques, it often becomes necessary to cease operations on very short notice dueto turbulent waters caused by intense storms such as hurricanes and typhoons. In suspending such operations'it would be more economical and save considerable amounts of time if the major portion of the well tubing, drill pipe, or well casing, Whichever is then being worked, could be left in the well rather than removed. 7

I Pipe hangers have been proposed and are available for suspending well tubing, drill pipe and the like in conventional operations. Most of them operate on an undesirable gripping principle in which sharply serrated clamps bite into the pipe surface often damaging the same.

The new and improved hanger of the present invention overcomes the undesirable features of prior art apparatus and permits the suspending of the drill stem, well tubing and the like on a down the hole shoulder of an offshore well thereby. eliminating several disadvantages of corn ventional equipment and methods, such as, possible damage caused by the serrated clamps, or the removal of the entire string of pipe, or the imposing of the entire pipe load on the upper and weaker portion of the conductor-support system. The new pipe hanger is composed of few working parts, is capable of supporting great weights of drill stem, is comparatively inexpensive and may be quickly installed and operated. The latter feature of the present invention is of great advantage when drilling operations mustbe halted on short notice. The improved pipe hanger of the present invention may be installed on well pipe without removing blowout preventors, control valves and associated equipment.

These and other advantages may be obtained with the apparatus of the present invention which in its broadest aspect comprises a plurality of body sections having associated'therewith rotatable load bearing wings which are maintained in hinged relationship to the body sections by means of wing support members. On assembly of the hanger on well tubing or drill stem below a string coupling with the wings in a closed position the tubing may be lowered into the well casing or conductor with the hanger passing throughthe blowout preventor. On passage through the blowout preventor the load bearing wings are then rotated outwardly by means of a wrench atthe surface. The tubing is then furtherlowered to a point where the wings rest on a down the'hole shoulder positioned near the earth surface within the conductor or outer casing By, this, means the total weight of the 1 2,928,635 Patented Mar. 15,1960

tioned on the tubing in the casing of an olfshore well.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view takenalong the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the hanger body sections showing the hanger as assembled for use. v

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular Figures 1 and 3, numeral 1 designates the well conductor pipe of an olfshore well. Conductor 1 normally extends above the surface of the water, and terminates a short distance below the surface of the earth underlying the Water. Within conductor 1 a string of well casing 2 is positioned penetrating the earth surface substantially to the drilling zone or to the production zone after drilling has been completed. Casing 2 terminates at its upper end in a down the hole shoulder identified as 3. Shoulder 3 is generally integral with the adjacent portion of well casing indicated by 4 which as shown in the drawing will be of larger diameter than casing 2. The upper portion of easing 2 is cemented to conductor 1. As shown in Figure 1, the down the hole shoulder indicated at 3 is integral with casing 2 and is firmly affixed by welding indicated at 37 to casing 4. While this at rangement is satisfactory, it is preferred that the shoulder 3 be fashioned or made an integral part of that portion of the string joining sections 4 and 2. v I

In the .preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in Figure 3, the new and improved pipe hanger generally indicated by numeral 8 comprises three body sections identified as 8a,. 8b and 80. Each body section has a curved inner surface to permit the section to fit snugly against the tubing or drill pipe as indicated by numeral 6. The length and size of the, respective body sections will of course vary in accordance with the size and length of pipe to be supported. The upper edge of the respective body sections terminates in a flat surface 36 which will rest against the lower end of a string coupling identified as 7 when the hanger is assembled on the well tubing.

In the lower. portion of each body section an adjustable screw 10 is provided to insure a tight fit of the hanger on the pipe or tubing when the hanger is assembled thereon. V

Each body section includes wing support members identified as 9a, 9b and 9c. These support members may be fabricated as a part of the body section or fastened thereto by welding or other means. 'The support members terminate in a slightly enlarged and curved end portion identified as 20 which has a hole identified as 21 therein for the purpose of receiving pin 13 as is more completely described hereafter. Thewing supports 91:, l

i when the body sections are assembled as'shown in Figure 3, the expanded end portions-20 of adjacent wing support members will overlap. To enable the body sections to be assembled in hinged relationship and to insure that the load bearing wings 12' will'terminate at a common level, the end portions of one series of wing support members will be placed 'in stepped relationship to each other so as to permit interlocking with adjacent wing support members of adjacent body sections. This will be more clearlyevident by referring to body section 80, on which are positioned the wing supportmembers identified as 9c and 9c. This permits wing, support member 9a to rest on 9c, and to reston wing,sup port 9b of body section sb. n1 a similarmanner, the other wing support members of the respective body sections are placed in overlapping relationship. If more or less than three body sections are used, the number and position of the wing support members on adjacent body sections must be adjustedaccordingly;

Wing support members are vertically positioned on the respective body sections in such a manner that when the end portions of adjacent support members overlap, sufficient space remains between adjacent support members e e m t h u d en por i hs127 ele d b a n in 12 to 'be inserted. j'

Lead e h ing 12.- e equal in numbe to t body e s nd te m nate at thei upper end in a .f at surface 22, and the lower end at flat surface 23. Load bearing Wings 2 ine de cu e end porti n identifi a 27 a ed pace n er a .sufli iemtesp thee p t ns of adj e wing supnort mem e s e t e b dy s t n a e assemble adja n eaeh et e The nu e .sfs pe spa s id n ified y numeral 25 be ween the r sp c e d Pent um .7 of a loa ear w ns will vary i e erda ee wi h thenhm erhf Wing s p members pnlthe'bpldy section and the inurnberof curved V endpe tionsz' o the l a bearing wins zrequired t fi t e epenspa e created by t e Wills suppor memb rs-- It ll e ha ed that .thel nhe usu fae 24ef1ead hea in w ng ll r und d to p m the. rot on efwing 12 af he'wiha z splaced inhinged rel tie sh p th the e pande .en h ens hf adjac nt wins upp m mbers.-

I e expanded end p r en .27 o .v ihss .2 .ihslud s a pin re e ihs he ezsilhishe ei rot simi a s ze toth e esip ev de n the expa de .e dp r i n at he tions to center the tubing in the well casing. Guide members 19' insure engagement of the load bearing wings 12 in their open position on the down the hole shoulder 3. Similar to the wing support members, guides 19 may form .an integral partof the respective body sections or be permanently fixed thereto by welding or other means.

Preparatory to inserting pipe hanger 15 in well casing 4, a portion of well tubing 6 is raised to the surface. This portion must be of sufiicient length to prevent the lower end of tubing fijfrorn resting on the formation at the bottom of the bore hole when the pipe hanger engages the down the hole shoulder. To position hanger 8 on the tubing,'the screws14 from any hinge pin 13, the pin 13 and the attached load' bearing wing 12 are removed. The body sections 8a, 8b or 80 adjacent to the removed pin 13 are rotated outwardly 'on the remaining hinge pins 13, thu permi t n he pipe hanger h to h wrapped ame a the W l tuhiheli- I lhashppa Lm mhe sen h peetiv b dy porti n In add tion to the e t ea p n eceiv ng ole f W s 12, screws 14 are p Qvided to prevent pin 13 from being withdrawn irom the respective expanded :end portions once pin 13 is,,insert.ed therein W e fused in p s on scre 4 p rmits r tation .of load earin ing 2 h n a wrench or other turning means is applied to the upper end of .pin '13.

Hinge pin 13 atits upperend terminates in-a nut 28m other configuration adapted to receive extension rods 15 'lihe le d heari g wing .12 is retu uedte i spes tion- Pin 13 is nserted i holes 1 and 29,.an scre s Ma e n talled i wih ll and p n 13.- P n 13 hs s s ins 1.2 in hin d r lati nsh p to slipper; members 91:. 9b and- .1;,

thhl p e mat qa of ings 2- .lhe pine hanger 8i d trestsagam ele e ehdotco lin Hanged 1. ,lixten en reels 1 e s ins all d nuts 28 an scr ws 33 .ta en d- Extension rods 5 are tu ned. ther by ro a i inge pins 13 and the load bearing wings fastened thereto in toward t e hady sectiensl a v A hole in nut 2,3:permits insertion of screw 33; T his-prevents vertical separationof hinge pin 13 from extension rods 15. Pius or keys may be substituted for screws 33 ifslesired. A short distance below the upper end of hinge pin 13 ;a..fiange 34 is provided, adapted to rest on the upper flat surface 22. Hinge pin 131s fashioned so that it may be inserted intheholes 29 ofload bearing wings 12. Pin 13 is ofsufiicient-length to passthrough holes 21 and 29 and terminates in thelower. extension of -the wing 12. Holes are provided inhinge pin 13at points coincidentwith the similar holes in load bearing Wings 12 for the insertion of cre 4- The t re t h u epih .13 may e varied if desir d- ,For exa p pin 3-. m y be. ,a. square or other'similar configuration. will necessitatea-change in (hole 29 of wings 12 vto a \correspending configurat on so tha ro ati n of pin 13 will rotate-wings 12. a a V Th nut 28 is a hexag n o other sui a e e nfisuratie adapted o receive sqeke 3.0 o ex ens o rods 5- The s rin of tubin w th theh nse 8 atta h is lowered. init j el easi g 4.11nti1 h han e 8 pa ses through the blowout preventors. By means of a wrench app ied to th 1 1- th e d i g .wi s a e In: tated outwardly from the body sections. Tubing 6 is now lowereduntil the load bearing-wings 12 engage. thedown the lioleshoulder. 3. The lower surface 23 of wing 12 rests on the flat portion of down the hole shoulder 3. The weightof well tubing 6 is thus transferred from coupling 7 to hanger 8. f

If it is .desiredrtorernove hangerS, the tubing. 6 is raised wu nti1 rn1t'17 passes through the blowout preventor. ,A

reaches the surface, Screws 33 andextension rods 15am removed. Screws 10and 14 are removed. Pin 13. and

and are otsuflieientlengthrte enahle p n .13:.to1h e.rotated from the surfaee afterhange his wrapped around the tube andpassed through the .blgwout-preventor and con tro The upp ne det xtensien rod literminates in-a nu 1 .1 .4 .atztheh' lewerrend in .a secketfill adapted to ecei e hu 28 of 1 1111 ..A hole i provided through sae t 30 at .a-p sitien corresponding to th hole provided in hutv 2. .for scre .35. Ifififiiifiiinflfltfltkfl .means, toethe th ,a .eer e ponding.sletorlreyrmeansin out as,

18. The end portions of bracket 16;indica,ted by numeral r moved pin a ota ed utwardly, removal of hanger 8.

appended hemmwing .1 a e mo ed and t e ody et s a ja en to the thus permitting the .From th reg ing; it is. appa e t th he p es n inve n prov desa na e p pe ng r for secu ng as na .Q we l tubi in a wel easi Ihewe h o th sh ne t h n r her han being shpp rt d fr m t e s fa e a by t e p ofthe ee dueter, is shppe ted e a ewn' hole sheulderr h le we has descri ed ehni ve t o w t a rta h de re .e ''pa tieularity, i of cou e, un ers od tha ehange .ind a l andha hh ha ieas and ar ahgem n et e i ions may-h s rt d thl 'de re forleisahsple, the h n er may be c nstru ed o r we bod ee ee hr tour f mere sections, ra er than the th e .s etiqns shown- Wh n soJcenst uetedJhe nece ary mod fic tiqns to the num er. i a ahsl spa e r lat nsh p of the Issues-- tive wi g support memhet andlea hea ing winasmhst a s h ma ehu h chan es, 95. 91115? whals t e iteso ted to with ut depart nsf em h s n and spirit 9 t in en ion. whiehisto'be ted only .by th claims f We claim: 7 1 ,1. A pipe ,hang'e a ap ed to su pen he well tu in On .a down the 'hb .shplllderin .the ca ng lot. a fishere' well comprising anrelongated body portion attachable to 16a must beat sufficient diameter'to permit rods 15 to pa through: in additi n tube guides maybe the well tubing, said body portion comprising. atleast weseetiens sa d:sectign hay ng .ihnetsli iace. shape hen. locked l1! .pos tieh by screws 1.0.- a

to fit the tubing and an outer surface including a plurality of vertically spaced wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned s o as to be in overlapping interlocked relationship'with other wing support members when the body sections are'placed adjacent to each other, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings held in hinged relationship to the wing support members by hinge pins, said wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge, and said pins terminating at their upper end in means to effect the rotation thereof.

2. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an offshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing, and adapted to rest against the lower edge of a tubing coupling, said body portion comprising at least two sections, said sections having an inner surface shaped to fit the tubing and an outer surface including a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced wing support members terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned to overlap other wing support members of adjacent body sections, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings hinged to the wing support members by hinge pins, said wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge and said pin terminating at its upper end in means to effect the rotation thereof.

3. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an offshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing, said body portion comprising at least two sections, said sections having an inner surface shaped to fit the tubing and an outer surface including a plurality of vertically spaced wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned so as to be in overlapping interlocked relationship with other wing support members when the body sections are placed adjacent to each other, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings held in hinged relationship to the wing support members by hinge pins, said wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge, and said pin terminating at its upper end in means to efiect the rotation thereof, said means comprising extension rods having associated therewith a bracket positioned on the well tubing above said hanger, said bracket designed to maintain the extension rods perpendicular to said hanger.

4. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an offshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing and having included on its lower end guide members positioned to 'centerthe hanger in the tubing, said body portion comprising at least two sections, said sections having an inner surface shaped to fit the tubing, and an outer surface including a plurality of vertically spaced wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned so as to meet in overlapping interlocked relationship with other wing support members when the body sections are placed adjacent to each other, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings held in hinged relationship to the wing support members by hinge pins, said Wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge and said pin terminating at its upper end in means to effect the rotation thereof.

5. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an ofishore v 6 well comprising a centrally located elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing, said body portion comprising .atleast two sections, said sections having their inner surfaces shaped to fit the tubing and an outer-surface, having attached thereto a plurality of vertically spaced wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin hole therein, said wing support members positioned so as to be in overlapped relationship with other wing support members of adjacent body sections, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings held in hinged relationship to the wing support members by hinge pins, said wings having holes positioned therethrough for insertion of screws and terminating in a load bearing lower edge, said pin comprising a cylindrical column containing holes positioned therethrough corresponding to the holes in the load bearing wings for the insertion of screws of sufficient length to pass through the hinge pin and load bearing wing, and terminating at its upper end in means to effect the rotation thereof. 7

6. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an ofifshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing, said body portion comprising at least two sections, said sections having an inner surface curved to fit the tubing and an outer surface to which are attached a plurality of wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned so as to meet in overlapping interlocked relationship with other wing support members of adjacent body sections, a plurality of rotatable load hearing Wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge and adapted to interlock the wing support members of adjacent sections, said wings being held in hinged relationship with the wing support members and movable by a hinge pin and said hinge pin having means attached to its upper end to elfect rotation thereof.

7. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend the well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an offshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to thewell tubing, said body portion comprising three sections, said sections having a curved inner surface shaped to fit the tubing and an outer surface to which are attached a plurality of wing support members horizontally extending beyond the body sections and terminating in an expanded end portion, said expanded end portion having a hinge pin receiving hole therein, said wing support members positioned so as to meet in overlapping interlocked relationship with the other wing support members when the body sections are placed adjacent to each other, a plurality of rotatable load bearing wings held in hinged relationship to the wing support members by hinge pins, said wings terminating in a load bearing lower edge and said hinge pin terminatingat its upper end in means to effect the rotation thereof.

8. A pipe hanger adapted to suspend well tubing on a down the hole shoulder in the casing of an offshore well comprising an elongated body portion attachable to the well tubing, said body portion comprising at least terminating in load bearing lower surfaces and having projecting portions adapted to interlock with wing support members of adjacent sections; hinge means for 36-, 

